Health & Wellness

Reach For The Blues For Healthy Aging

Blue and purple fruits and vegetables contain health-promoting Phytochemicals, which are being studied for their anti-aging benefits. It's believed that eating produce that is blue or purple in color can help maintain urinary tract health, lower the risk of some cancers and help with memory function.

Blackberry

These deeply hued, juicy berries grow wild across much of North America. Cultivated varieties, which are actually raspberry/blackberry hybrids include boysenberries, loganberries, and ollalieberries. Like most varieties of berries, blackberries are a rich source of antioxidants. Try these delicious sweet berries on ice cream or yogurt, or for a real breakfast treat, serve them in a crepe filled with lightly sweetened ricotta cheese, and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

In Season: Summer

Recipes

Blueberry

Blueberries can help reduce the risk of urinary tract infection, and their high antioxidant level helps reduce the buildup of bad cholesterol.

Blueberries literally burst with flavor and nutrition. These sweet little berries provide an abundant supply of free-radical fighting antioxidants which offer innumerable health benefits. These berries are delicious added to just about anything. Try them mixed in yogurt, sprinkled on ice cream or your morning cereal, or even added to a salad of fresh spring greens.

Eggplant

Trivia

Originally an Oriental ornamental plant, eggplant got its name from yellow and white fruited varieties with egg-sized fruits.

In India and Medieval Europe, eggplant was credited with remarkable properties as a love potion. By the 16th Century, northern Europeans were calling eggplants, "mad apples" in the belief that consumption would cause insanity.

Eggplant were brought to America by Spaniards as "berengenas," meaning apples of love.

Ladies in the high society of China once made black dye from dark eggplant skins and used it to stain their teeth to a black lustre, a fashionable cosmetic use.

Try this beautiful purple vegetable marinated and grilled on spring greens with your favorite vinaigrette, or with basil, provolone, and roasted red peppers on crispy Italian bread. Choose a firm, smooth-skinned eggplant that is heavy for its size; avoid those with soft or brown spots.

Plum

Trivia

Although plums are native to Asia, Europe and America, most U. S. production is in the Japanese varieties which are red and yellow (European varieties are blue and purple).

The difference between plums and prunes is small. Plums are clingstone (the pit does not separate easily from the flesh) and prunes are freestone. While there are at least 125 prune varieties, most (except for Italian prunes) are grown for drying.

There are about 30 different varieties that will be available at the supermarket at different times during the summer. Ranging in color from black to pale yellow, and from sweet to tart in flavor, you'll only find each of these special varieties for a short period of time, so when you see a new one, be sure to take the opportunity to try it.

Purple Grape

Purple Potato

Purple potatoes contain the antioxidant glutathione and all of the nutrients of other potatoes. And did you know that one serving provides 45% RDI of Vitamin C, 21% RDI of Potassium and 3 grams of fiber?

Recipes

Blackberry

High in fiber and Folate" title="Is the naturally occurring form of Folic Acid found in leafy green vegetables and fortified grains. It is also part...">Folate, blackberries are also a good source of Iron, promotes healthy gums, and is an...">Vitamin C and contain small amounts of Iron" title="A necessary mineral for the proper function of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. It is...">Iron, Calcium" title="The most plentiful mineral in the body and one of the most important. The body needs it to build and...">Calcium and Vitamin E plays a vital role in protecting the body from many chronic disorders. It may...">Vitamin E.

These deeply hued, juicy berries grow wild across much of North America. Cultivated varieties, which are actually raspberry/blackberry hybrids include boysenberries, loganberries, and ollalieberries. Like most varieties of berries, blackberries are a rich source of antioxidants. Try these delicious sweet berries on ice cream or yogurt, or for a real breakfast treat, serve them in a crepe filled with lightly sweetened ricotta cheese, and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

In Season: Summer

Recipes

Blueberry

Blueberries can help reduce the risk of urinary tract infection, and their high antioxidant level helps reduce the buildup of bad cholesterol.

Blueberries literally burst with flavor and nutrition. These sweet little berries provide an abundant supply of free-radical fighting antioxidants which offer innumerable health benefits. These berries are delicious added to just about anything. Try them mixed in yogurt, sprinkled on ice cream or your morning cereal, or even added to a salad of fresh spring greens.

In Season: Summer — Autumn

Recipes

Eggplant

With only 25 calories per serving, healthy eggplant also contains dietary fiber, Iron, promotes healthy gums, and is an...">Vitamin C, Iron" title="A necessary mineral for the proper function of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. It is...">Iron and Potassium" title="Helps control the body's fluid balance, helps muscles contract, transmits nerve impulses and aids in heart and kidney function. Potassium...">Potassium.

Trivia

Originally an Oriental ornamental plant, eggplant got its name from yellow and white fruited varieties with egg-sized fruits.

In India and Medieval Europe, eggplant was credited with remarkable properties as a love potion. By the 16th Century, northern Europeans were calling eggplants, "mad apples" in the belief that consumption would cause insanity.

Eggplant were brought to America by Spaniards as "berengenas," meaning apples of love.

Ladies in the high society of China once made black dye from dark eggplant skins and used it to stain their teeth to a black lustre, a fashionable cosmetic use.

Try this beautiful purple vegetable marinated and grilled on spring greens with your favorite vinaigrette, or with basil, provolone, and roasted red peppers on crispy Italian bread. Choose a firm, smooth-skinned eggplant that is heavy for its size; avoid those with soft or brown spots.

In Season: Summer — Autumn

Recipes

Plum

High in Iron, promotes healthy gums, and is an...">Vitamin C, plums contain some Potassium" title="Helps control the body's fluid balance, helps muscles contract, transmits nerve impulses and aids in heart and kidney function. Potassium...">Potassium, as well as Riboflavin" title="An essential nutrient in human nutrition and plays a key role in the production of energy. Riboflavin has antioxidant activity....">Riboflavin and other B vitamins.

Trivia

Although plums are native to Asia, Europe and America, most U. S. production is in the Japanese varieties which are red and yellow (European varieties are blue and purple).

The difference between plums and prunes is small. Plums are clingstone (the pit does not separate easily from the flesh) and prunes are freestone. While there are at least 125 prune varieties, most (except for Italian prunes) are grown for drying.

There are about 30 different varieties that will be available at the supermarket at different times during the summer. Ranging in color from black to pale yellow, and from sweet to tart in flavor, you'll only find each of these special varieties for a short period of time, so when you see a new one, be sure to take the opportunity to try it.

Prune

Very high in Antioxidants" title="Counteract the oxidizing (burning) effects of free radicals, harmful molecules that can cause cellular damage throughout the body. Besides leading...">Antioxidants and a good source of Vitamin A, dried plums and raisins also contain Vitamin E plays a vital role in protecting the body from many chronic disorders. It may...">Vitamin E, Potassium" title="Helps control the body's fluid balance, helps muscles contract, transmits nerve impulses and aids in heart and kidney function. Potassium...">Potassium, Iron" title="A necessary mineral for the proper function of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. It is...">Iron and B vitamins, as well as Magnesium" title="An essential mineral in human nutrition with a wide range of biological functions. Magnesium is involved in over 300 metabolic...">Magnesium and phosphorous.

Recipes

Purple Grape

Free of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and Sodium" title="One of the most important minerals in the body. It is an electrolyte, which means it carries an electrical charge...">Sodium, purple grapes are a healthy source of Iron, promotes healthy gums, and is an...">Vitamin C, and are high in Antioxidants" title="Counteract the oxidizing (burning) effects of free radicals, harmful molecules that can cause cellular damage throughout the body. Besides leading...">Antioxidants!

Purple Potato

Purple potatoes contain the antioxidant glutathione and all of the nutrients of other potatoes. And did you know that one serving provides 45% RDI of Iron, promotes healthy gums, and is an...">Vitamin C, 21% RDI of Potassium" title="Helps control the body's fluid balance, helps muscles contract, transmits nerve impulses and aids in heart and kidney function. Potassium...">Potassium and 3 grams of fiber?

Raisin

Very high in Antioxidants" title="Counteract the oxidizing (burning) effects of free radicals, harmful molecules that can cause cellular damage throughout the body. Besides leading...">Antioxidants and a good source of Vitamin A, dried plums and raisins also contain Vitamin E plays a vital role in protecting the body from many chronic disorders. It may...">Vitamin E, Potassium" title="Helps control the body's fluid balance, helps muscles contract, transmits nerve impulses and aids in heart and kidney function. Potassium...">Potassium, Iron" title="A necessary mineral for the proper function of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. It is...">Iron and B vitamins, as well as Magnesium" title="An essential mineral in human nutrition with a wide range of biological functions. Magnesium is involved in over 300 metabolic...">Magnesium and phosphorous.

Health & Wellness Articles

In Season

Get ready for springtime! March 21 marks the official beginning of the spring season. This means spring showers, spring flowers, and whole new crop of fresh spring foods. This month, take the opportunity to enjoy a few winter favorites that are still at their peak, and to get a first taste of the spring season's freshest picks.